Scientific Literacy in the Philippines

staff 6 scholarship grooming in the Philippine Society Lesson 13 scientific Literacy knowledge Literacy acquaintance is frequently perceived to be of groovy importance beca utilize of its links to engineering and industry which, from a national perspective, whitethorn be atomic number 18as with high priority for training. Countries wanting to improve their peoples quality of life cannot escape the have to harness their instruction and applied science cap baron as a way of maturation competitiveness. Consequently, science is include as a core element in elementary and auxiliary levels despite conceptual complexity and high cost of implementation.Another justification for the cellular inclusion of science in high school curricular is that all citizens need to achieve a degree of scientific literacy to en equal to(p) them to participate effectively as citizens in modern societies. It is, therefore, important to be guided by past and present experiences in science upbrin ging to be able to recognize the turning points for the countrys future which we need to adjudicate now. Studies indicate however, that many of our Filipino learners are not attaining functional literacy, without which they dress it too difficult to meet the challenges posed by our rapid changing world.Scientific literacy is a related concept to issue of cultural and technological literacy (a terminal figure used in recognition of the relationship between science and technology in everyday life). Some scientific educators have attempted to pose or analyze it. The term scientific literacy has been used in the literary works for more than four decades (Gullagher and Harsch, 1997) although not always with the same meaning (Bybee, 1997). gum benjamin Shen (1983) attaines 3 types of scientific literacy practical, civic, and scientific cultural literacy.Practical scientific literacy is that kind of scientific and technical know guidege that can be put to use to attention solve pr actical problems. The example given is that of the reduction in the habituation on infant formulae. Also, the use of alternative medicines like herbal plants sort of of synthetic ones to prevent the cause of side effects that are poisonous to ones health. Civic scientific literacy enables the citizens to become more conscious(predicate) of science and science related issues so that he can example these issues with common sense. Shen defines civic scientific literacy as a level of understanding of scientific terms and constructs sufficient to . . understand the essence of competing arguments on a given dispute on controversy. An example common in many countries these days is the growing concern about the environment especially the pollution of air, water and land. Media have contributed much to such awareness by bringing to public attention the activities of active environmental groups. However such concerns are more vigorous and numerous in developed countries than in devel oping countries. It is time that citizens of developing countries became more aware and attentive to such matters. The third form is cultural scientific literacy.People who seek this form of scientific literacy desire to know something about science as a major human achievement. This group would come mostly from the intellectual community, those who watch television programs like Nova, Invention and similar discovery documentaries. The widely publicized subjects are based on the notion that scientific literacy has 3 components (Hodson) 1. substantive concepts with science 2. the nature of scientific activity 3. role of science in society and elaboration Norris and Philips(2003) argue that the term scientific literacy has been used to include divers(a) components from the following a. Knowledge of the substantive content of science and the ability to distinguish from non-science b. ) Understanding science and its applications c. ) Knowledge of what counts as science d. ) Indepe ndence in learning science e. ) aptitude to think scientifically f. ) Ability to use scientific knowledge in problem result g. ) Knowledge required for intelligent participation in science-based issues h. ) Understanding the nature of science, including its relationship with culture i. ) Appreciation of and comfort with science, including its wonder and curiosity j. Knowledge of the risks and benefits of science and k. ) Ability to think critically about science and to deal with scientific expertise. They offer references to illustrate this. The confusion as to a precise meaning has led to a call to remove such term as a goal for school science literacy for future adult life finished a longitudinal international study (OECD, 2007), although this has been criticized, not least because its measures are through written tests and questionnaires, which generally show developing countries to be in poor shape to meet such a goal. Philippine SettingThe Philippines set up the National scientific discipline increase Board, in 1958 and Philippine Science gamy Schools or schools with science and tech-oriented classes were established because there is no streaming, or classify of students according to their intellectual capacity at the higher levels of secondary school. Aims and Objectives The governing body recognizes the importance of science and technology capability for the emergence of our industry and country. The education sector collaborates with other government agencies to contribute to the success of government goals.As such, DECS (now DepEd) has cerebrate its efforts towards programs and projects aimed at improving English, Science and Mathematics education in base education. The objectives of elementary and secondary school science At the end of hit VI, the student is expected to apply his scientific knowledge and skills in recognizing and solving problems in relation to health and sanitation, nutrition, food production, preparation and storag e, environment and the conservation of its resources, and evolving better ways and means of doing things. Bureau of Elementary preparation, 1998) The Secondary Science Education Programme aims to develop understanding of concepts and key principles of science, science processes, skills and desirable values to make the students scientifically literate, productive and effective citizens (Bureau of Secondary Education, 1998). Education for three types of literacy can come from both formal and informal sources. In developing countries like the Philippines, informal sources are not as soft accessible as they are in affluent and developed countries.Much of such learning can be derived from museums, science centers, and botanical gardens, zoos, well-ordinate programme of lectures and experiments, visits to manufacturing companies and industrial sites, science fair and camps, media, clubs and science-related organizations. With a minimum of such resources, most developing countries rely on formal education (generally up to elementary levels only) for the using of scientific literacy of their citizens. ProblemsThe Survey of Outcomes of Elementary Education (SOUTEL) account the poor mathematical operation of elementary school pupils and the lack of difference in the achievement of fifth and 6th grade. Third International Mathematics and science study (1915) reported also that Philippines ranked among the lowest scoring countries. Problems are encountered in curriculum, learning veridicals, teachers and students performance. Factors of low achievement in science and mathematics (Ibe, M) ? Absence of a science culture ? Teacher training, the school curriculum Instructional material ? Teacher-learning process ? Language instruction ? Governance of education Reforms I. Improvements are foreign-assisted projects implement in the country. Among these are The Science and Mathematics Education Manpower Development Program (SMEMDP) of the Japan Bank Project in Basic Education (ProBE) funded by Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) National Science Teaching and Instrumentation Center, a project with German governmentII. Information and colloquy Technology (ICT) Enhancing scientific literacy through science education is developing an ability to creatively utilize appropriate evidence-based scientific knowledge and skills, particularly with relevance for everyday life and a career, in solving personally contend yet meaningful scientific problems as well as reservation responsible socio-scientific decisions. But it is necessary to recognize that enhancing scientific literacy is also dependent on the need toDevelop collective interaction skills, personal development and suitable communication approaches as well as the need to reveal sound and persuasive reasoning in putting forward socio-scientific arguments. The wildness on enhancing scientific literacy is placed on an appreciation of science the development of personal at tributes and be acquisition of socio-scientific skills and values. (Holbrook and Rannikmae, 2007) The government has a lot to do to improve the quality of science and technology education in the country.The segment of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) should implement and develop the programs created. The school should nurture the talents and skills of students to develop their scientific literacy as well as appliying the knowledge in their lives. References Batomalaque, A. Basic Science Development Program of the Philippines for International Cooperation. University of San Carlos, Cebu City, Philippines. Hernandez, D. History and Philosophy of Science Education. Holbrook, J. and Rannikmae, M. 2009. The intend of Science Literacy in Coll, R. nd Taylor, N. (Eds. ), Special Issue on Scientific Literacy. International Journal of Environmental and Science Education. Vol. 4 No. 3. July, 2009. Ibe, M. and Ogena, E. Science Education in the Philippines An Overview. Presented at t he Science Education Congress, ISMED, November 27-28, 1998. http//www. ibe. unesco. org/fileadmin/user upload/ archive/ curriculum/China/Pdf/beijingrep. pdf http//www. suite101. com/article. cfm/mass communication/ 95438 www. sensepublishers. com/catalog/files/9789087905071. pdf